THE BANGABHABAN : The President House of Bangladesh

Dhaka University (DU), the most prestigious educational institution of the country held its'largest ever' 45th Convocation today amid huge enthusiasm and festivity.

The Convocation conferred a total of 9,058 graduates - 4,349 male and 4,709 female in different disciplines. Besides, 58 students received M Phil degrees, 58 PhD degrees and 46 students were given gold medals for their outstanding results.
President Zillur Rahman, the Chancellor of the university chaired the convocation while Nobel Laureate and Professor Emeritus Yuan Tseh Lee of Taiwan attended as the Convocation Speaker.

The Convocation traditionally begun with the convocation procession led by the Chancellor of the University, started from Curzon Hall and ended at the venue at University play ground, decorated with flowers and colorful pandals.

The cheerful graduates wearing black robes and square hats, symbol of their academic success stood up while National Anthem was played just after ending of Convocation procession. The main Convocation programme was started with recitation from the holy books of four major religions as per the university tradition.

In his speech, the President Zillur Rahman laid emphasis on reaching the fruit of science and technology to the doorsteps of common people in view of spreading light of knowledge everywhere.

"We need to involve ourselves fully with the advancement of information and bio-technology for improving living standard of the country's mass people," he said.

Referring to the government's programme of building 'digital Bangladesh', the President said "I believe, the integrated efforts of all concerned people including the educational institution could be able to implement the programme successfully.

DU vice-chancellor Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique also spoke on the occasion while Pro-vice chancellor Prof Harun-or- Rashid gave vote of thanks. Acting Registrar of DU Rezaur Rahman conducted the main ceremony.

At the convocation, DU conferred 'doctorate of science' degree on three noted personalities - The University conferred honorary doctorate degree on convocation speaker Nobel Laureate Professor Emeritus Yuan Tseh Lee, eminent Bangladesh scientist Professor Abul Hussam an noted historian Professor Ranajit Guha.

In his convocation speech, Professor Lee said it seems to be quite clear that today's knowledge based economy, the advancement of scientific research and innovative application of technologies in a society will be the most important elements for sustainable development of society.

But, as we entered the 21st century, we have started to realize that the current development partners of human society are not sustainable, he pointed out.

"We must learn to work together as a community to find new, sustainable way to re-establish an intimate relation with biosphere, live in harmony with nature," he said, who is also the President of Institute of Atomic and Molecular Science Academia Sinica of Taipei-based Genomic Research Centre.

The other honorary 'doctorate of science' Abul Hussam, is a professor of George-Mason University of the USA who received Grainger Challenge Gold Medal from the National Academy of Engineers' of USA in 2007 for innovation of 'Sono Filter' to remove arsenic from drinking water. Professor Hussam was the student of Department of Chemistry of DU.

The third person, who received honorary doctorate degree Professor Ranajit Guha, born in Barisal, is emeritus fellow of National university of Australia. According to the historians Ranajit has made a paradigm shift in the research on history of sub-continent.

Professor Abul Hussam and Professor Ranajit Guha were not able to attend the convocation. Brother of Prof Hussam Dr Abul KM Munir and Chairman of History Department Prof Ahmed Kamal received the degrees on their behalf respectively.

After awarding the honorary degrees, the respective deans submitted the names of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) candidates to the President. After accepting the names, the President announced their names.

Later, the deans again presented names of the graduates of their respective faculties and the president, chancellor of the university, President Zillur Rahman conferred the degrees.

Thirty-five students were awarded gold medals for their outstanding academic performances. They received the award one by one from President Zillur Rahman.

Recalling the glorious history of the university, vice- chancellor Professor Dr Arefin Siddique urged the graduates to
contribute to the welfare of the people of the country.

In his speech, the VC said this is the largest Convocation in the 88 years history of the university in terms of participation of graduates. "We should work together to keep the tradition of holding the Convocation every year," he added.

Cabinet members, secretaries, diplomats and representatives of foreign missions in Dhaka, DU senate and syndicate members, political and student leaders attended the programme on the university playground.

After ending the ceremonial part of the convocation, the university campus wore a festive look as hundreds of jubilant
students in their different convocation robes moved around and held numerous photo sessions to mark the eventful day.

'Gold Medals is a token of hard labour, I feel obviously good,' said Ibrahim Bin Harun, who won Abul Monsur Ahmed and Dilnasheen Khanam Gold Medals at the convocation ceremony.

Some of the graduates said that convocations should be held on a regular basis like the reputed private universities.